LAATech

We are developing a device to treat atrial fibrillation by preventing the left atrial appendage of the heart from throwing off blood clots.

Stage
Product In Development

Industry
Medical Devices and Equipment

Location
St. Louis, MO, USA

Currency
USD

Founded
June 2013

Employees
7

Company Summary

LAATech is developing a percutaneously-implantable device to fill the left atrial appendage (LAA) so that it will not throw off blood clots, which may produce strokes, in patients suffering from atrial fibrillation. This device represents a significant advance over other technologies because it conserves the LAA while filling it with a solid material that minimizes leakage. Our customers are hospitals and group purchasing organizations.

Team

Merrill E. Weber

President, General Counsel

Mr. Weber was President of Advanced Stent Technologies, a start-up medical device company that developed a specialized coronary stent and delivery system and was sold to Boston Scientific. Mr. Weber is a member of Stoma Ventures, a St. Louis-based company that is developing anti-infection devices for dental facilities. A corporate and securities lawyer, Mr. Weber received his BA, MSJ (Journalism) and JD from Columbia University in New York.

Robert Vanderselt

Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Vanderselt is Managing Partner, St. Louis and Practice Leader, Middle Markets at Business Transaction Specialists. He has grown profitable consumer and industrial businesses. He was President and CEO of Anchor Packaging, and Managing Partner of Packaging Resources. Mr. Vanderselt is managing member of Stoma Ventures. He received his BSE in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University and his MBA from the University of Michigan.

Richard Lee

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Lee, is a professor, vice chair of surgery and co-director of the Center for Comprehensive Cardiovascular Care in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the St. Louis University School of Medicine. Dr. Lee received his MD from the University of Illinois and his MBA from the John M. Oiin School of Business at Washington University. Previously he was affiliated with the Feinberg School of Medicine of Northwestern University.

Gil M. Vardi

Medical Advisor

Dr. Vardi, MD, FACC, is a practicing cardiologist and an owner of St. Louis Heart and Vascular. Dr. Vardi invented the underlyling technology and served as CEO and CMO of Advanced Stent Technologies (sold to Boston Scientific). He is the named inventor on more than 30 patents. Dr. Vardi received his MD from the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University in Israel and did a fellowship in cardiology at Northwestern University.

Eric Williams

Chief Technology Officer

Mr. Williams is CTO of Stoma Ventures. Previously he was Exec. Dir., R&D at Micrus Endovascular (acquired by Johnson & Johnson), VP, R&D at Advanced Stent Technologies (acquired by Boston Scientific), Project Engineer at Boston Scientific and Engineer at ACS (acquired by Guidant). Mr. Williams has more than 20 years' experience in medical devices and is named inventor on more than 20 patents. He graduated from San Jose State University.